Page 33 of Sweet Deception (Savage Vow #2)

GLEB

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I pulled up in front of Misha Petrov’s mansion.

Originally, we were supposed to meet at our usual spot, but he changed plans at the last minute, texting me to come to his house instead.

I didn’t see it as a risk. Not because I trusted him blindly, his family had just launched an attack on mine, but because Misha and I went way back. We shared a history built on mutual respect. If he still valued that past, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to pull something here.

I opened the door for Anna, watching as she stepped out cautiously.

“This doesn’t look like a spot,” she murmured, scanning the grand estate. “This is a house.”

“Misha’s house.”

Her expression tightened with unease. I rubbed her back lightly, offering a small smile. “Don’t worry. Nothing bad will happen.”

Not while I was here.

My gun was tucked securely under my jacket, and I was one signal away from my men storming this place if Misha had really lost his damn mind.

The mansion’s large doors swung open, revealing two figures. One was Misha, smiling like an old friend. The other was a woman, slim, petite, but radiating a sharp, lethal energy. She was beautiful in a way that could cut.

Misha grinned as he approached, pulling me into a rough hug.

“Oh, my days, Gleb! It’s been too long.”

His gaze shifted to Anna, and his grin widened.

“And who is this beautiful jewel?”

“My wife,” I answered flatly, not liking the way his eyes lingered on her.

Before I could react, Anna stretched her hand, not to Misha, but to the woman beside him.

“Anna,” she said, offering a rare, warm smile.

The woman didn’t return it. Her icy gaze flicked to Anna’s outstretched hand before she finally responded.

“Luna,” she said coolly.

Misha gestured toward the entrance. “Come in.”

Anna hesitated, casting a glance at me.

I took her hand in mine, squeezing gently. She wasn’t alone. No harm would come to her here, I’d make sure of it.

Inside, we followed Misha and Luna through the lavish halls before settling into an elegant sitting room.

Misha barely got comfortable before turning to his wife.

“Luna, why don’t you take Anna for a walk?”

“She’s not leaving my side.”

My voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Misha exhaled, shaking his head. “Gleb, you think I’d invite you to my house just to harm your wife?”

“I think you breached our contract,” I countered.

His brows knit together in genuine confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I leaned forward. “You attacked my shipments at the docks. Why?”

Misha’s expression darkened. “I would never do that.”

“Don’t play with me, Misha.” My voice was cold, measured. “If I didn’t respect our history, I’d already be retaliating.”

Misha cursed under his breath and reached for his phone. “Give me a second.”

“You’re wasting your time,” Luna cut in.

Misha froze, his grip tightening around the phone.

Luna leaned back in her seat, her smirk full of amusement. “Your father ordered the attack.”

Misha went pale. “My father has dementia. Why the hell would my soldiers listen to him?”

Luna’s smirk widened. “Because I told them you approved it.”

The silence was suffocating.

Misha’s jaw clenched, his knuckles going white around his phone. “What did you just say?”

Luna tilted her head. “I said... I’m just getting started ruining your life, husband.”

Ah.

So they were married.

Misha’s entire body went rigid. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, visibly restraining himself. “Don’t tempt me, Luna.” His voice went low. “Or you might need clutches to walk for the next week.”

Luna’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Oh?” She crossed her legs slowly. “You want to start now? Right here, in front of our guests?”

Anna and I exchanged a glance, both equal parts amused and uncomfortable.

Misha turned to me with a look of exasperation. “I swear to you, this wasn’t intentional. My little wife has lost her damn mind.”

Luna scoffed. “Lost my mind? You know exactly why, so don’t paint me as the villain here.”

Misha pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just take Anna for a walk. I need to fix this mess you created.”

Luna didn’t move.

Misha’s tone dropped. “Luna.”

The way he said her name had an immediate effect. Her bravado wavered for just a second before she stood up.

She turned to Anna, flashing her a mischievous smile. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s leave these heartless bastards to their scheming. Birds of a feather.”

Anna hesitated, glancing at me again.

I let her go. Not because I trusted Luna, but because now I knew she was Misha’s problem. If she messed with mine, I’d mess with his.

As they left, Misha sagged into his chair.

“Gleb, you have to forgive me. I’ll pay for the damages.”

“In twofold.”

His head snapped up. “What?”

“You heard me. If I wasn’t smart enough to hold back, you’d have lost more than just some cargo.”

Misha groaned. “I can’t afford that.”

“Bullshit. You’re rich as fuck.”

“And so are you! You don’t need me to pay double.”

“You’ll pay, or I’ll treat this as an act of war.”

His eyes flickered with frustration. “I thought we were friends.”

“And who says we aren’t?” I smirked. “But business is business.”

Misha let out a long sigh. “I swear, I’m going to make Luna pay for this.”

I leaned back, chuckling. “Speaking of her... I didn’t know you were married. Keeping it a secret?”

He scoffed. “No. You just haven’t been paying attention.”

“She hates you.”

Misha smirked. “She should. But as long as she’s mine, I don’t care.”

I arched my brow. “You don’t hate her back?”

“It’s complicated. Her father is our main supplier in Colombia, and his shipments were grounded for months due to government policies.”

He continued, “he insisted that his protection needs be met at a higher level, protection only our cartel can provide. In exchange for resuming the supply, he required one of his daughters to marry me. We couldn’t afford to lose their goods, so we struck a deal: a temporary marriage alliance.

As long as our union lasts, our cartel will guard them with the full force of our resources, and in return, we secure a continuous, reliable supply.

It’s a win-win situation, a calculated and strategic alliance where both sides benefit, nothing more. ”

“The marriage wasn’t exactly voluntary on Luna’s part. I killed her lover.” He remarked indifferently, lighting a cigarette.

I let out a low whistle. “I see why she feels like strangling you to death.”

I took a drag from my own cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

Misha smirked. “Still think I’m the one who’s lost his mind?”

I chuckled darkly. “You’re insane, but you’re not stupid.”

Misha and I went back a long way. We survived the same hell, built our empires in blood, and buried too many enemies to count.

And now?

Now, we were both married to women who might just be more dangerous than we were.

The school we attended wasn’t like regular schools. It was created decades ago by mafia men who didn’t want their children mixing with outsiders. Every son and daughter of the Bratva was sent there.

While we learned the usual subjects, math, history, science, we were also taught how to shoot, how to kill, how to extract a beating heart. We memorized the consequences of betrayal, the mechanics of smuggling, the coded language for drugs, trafficking, and territory control.

Misha, Jasper, and I were inseparable back then. But eight years ago, we each went our own way.

I took over my parents’ cartel and ruled Moscow.

Misha took Yakutsk, the coldest city in Russia. He spent most of his time in Moscow, though, visiting his dying father, who refused to leave the city where his wife was buried.

Jasper ruled over Saint Petersburg, the second-largest city in Russia. Our forefathers had signed an agreement to keep peace between our cartels, so we never had any reason to cross paths in conflict.

That’s why, when my shipments were attacked, I didn’t react in blind rage. I knew something wasn’t right.

Thank God I know how to control my anger.

Misha smirked and leaned back. “Enough about me, Gleb. It’s not like you’re innocent. Didn’t you torch your deal with the Italians over some bastard groping your wife?”

I frowned. “Where did you hear that?”

“Unlike you, I keep track of everything happening in the underworld. I doubt you even know if Jasper is alive or dead.”

“We got a supply from him eight months ago when my supplier had a setback. So yeah, he’s alive.”

Misha grinned. “We should pay him a visit. You know... rekindle an old flame.”

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea. I’ll let you know when I’m free.”

He stood, walked to the bar, and poured us both whiskey.

After taking a sip, he turned to me. “I thought the whole point of your marriage was to make babies.”

I exhaled slowly. “Yeah. But once she gives birth, my grandmother will send the baby to the Italians. In return, she gets back my mother’s multimillion-dollar asset and the opportunity to kill five prominent members of their cartel. She thinks I don’t know.”

Misha didn’t even blink. “So you’ve been stalling on purpose.”

I nodded. “Until I find a better way to fix this mess and finally end the war between our families.”

“But Anna doesn’t know, does she?”

“No. She’s frustrated I haven’t touched her. But do you think she’d still be asking for it if she knew that as soon as she has our child, they’ll take it from her?”

Misha’s gaze darkened. “They’ll take the baby... and then what?”

“They’ll kill her.”

He stiffened.

“Her family had only been acting nice to her because they need an heir. The second she delivers, preferably a male child, they’ll have no use for her anymore.”

Misha exhaled. “I know you won’t let that happen.”

I met his gaze. “I will protect her with my life.”

A smirk tugged at his lips. “Damn. When did you turn into such a devoted husband?”

“She’s everything to me now,” I admitted.

Misha swirled his whiskey. “She’s got that innocent look. Untouched.”

“She is.”